First edition of 1000 copies in a custom made book bound gatefold sleeve and full color insert. “Grote Mandrenke” is definitely a Troum with a view. The title refers to a massive Atlantic storm that killed upwards of 25,000 Europeans in the mid 14th century (about a decade after the plague showed up. HOORAY!). Troum, of course, bathe their devastating subject in swelling waves of melodic drone and sea-walls of sound. Appropriately, “Grote Mandrenke” is cinematic and melancholy; anthemic and brooding, and distinctly shoegaze, but in a way that you can look up, and you still see shoes. And bodies, floating in a foamy miasma of silted water and fish guts. In fact, this should be on a label called 5AD, because this is one awesomer. Buzzsaw ambience and measured percussive breaths comprise a perfect soundtrack for nature's dominion over man.

An aural hallucination on the events that occurred January 15-17, 1362 at the Friesian North Sea coast. This is the studio-version of a live event performed throughout 2008 & 2009, with live-visuals by Brian Traylor. First live performance: Antwerp (BE), Jan 26, 2008 at Nuit & Brouillard festival. Last live performance: Torun (PL) March 27, 2009 at CocArt festival. Final mix: May 2011 Thanks to Chris McBeth & Brian Traylor. Special thanks to Güse S. Schierloh & Bernd Hollendiek who provided us with the main basic material - by fortunate coincidence they met already in 1993 and played (Güse) & recorded (Markow C.) the material which made this release possible. All artwork by Jesse Peper jessepeper.com. Layout and design by chris. www.troum.com www.troum.bandcamp.com www.lastfm/music/troum This is the second part in the "Power Romantic" series.

TROUM Grote Mandrenke (Beta Lactam Ring) EXPERIMENTAL / AMBIENT / COLD Despite a well-stocked discography, Troum remains a deeply fascinating group, and in each album, one wonders how they can be able to produce this music so haunting, so melancholy and so pure. But beware, Troum is constantly changing, and if you miss a few episodes, you may even be surprised by the current sound. Second part of the series Power Romantic after Idiophonika Mare (cf. Obsküre # 3), Grote Mandrenke is the studio version of live performances held in 2008 and 2009. The title refers to a torrential storm that hit the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, killing 25,000 Europeans in the fourteenth century. From this macabre event, Troum has extracted a work on cosmic elements, the outburst of water and the fatalism of the tragedy. Since the introduction of this three-quarters of an hour piece, symphonic grandeur is supported by brass and rhythm of a funeral march. In a rare intensity, Troum music transcends all shackles of dark ambient drones and integrates in its melodic sensibility more shoegaze ethereal atmospheres that can evoke the most atmospheric work of Cocteau Twins. The layers of sound are superimposed torrents movie and literally take us on a journey where the only basis is the permanent sensation of floating. The term "wave" has never been so appropriate and Troum has touched the cold wave so close. Moreover a part is entirely based on a sample of "The Mutant Jasz" of Dutch Mecano extract from their masterpiece Autoportrait, while the final song moves into a heartbreaking lament. Troum has the ability to make us dream with open eyes, but the images are so powerful, we would die in the peepers. Sublime but dangerous. Mäx Lachaud www.troum.com www.blrrecords.com